Card shuffler



G. M. WILLIAMS CARD- SHUF'FLER Jan. 22, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 9, 1954 g h F George M. Williams INVENTOR.

BY W Mq,

Jan. 22, 1957 e. M. WILLIAMS 2,778,643

CARD SHUFFLER Filed Aug. 9, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 George M. Williams INVENTOR.

CARD SHUFFLER George M. Williams, ew Qrleans, La. Application August 9, 1954, Serial No. 448,430

8 Claims. (o1. 213-149 This invention relates in general to improvements in card accessories, and more specifically-to a playing card shuffler. v

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved card shufiler which is simple 'in construction and at the sametime eflicient inoperation.

Another object of this invention is to'provide an improved card shufller which is so constructed whereby it will alternatingly drop individual cards from a pair of packs of cards so that the cards of the two packs are intermeshed or properly'shuflled. i

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved card shufliing device which is'of such-a nature that only a simple mechanical operation is necessary to result in the eifective shuflling of cards.

A further object of'this invention is to provide an improved card shuffler for playingcards, the cardshuflier operating on the sameprinciple of'a' personshuffling a pair of cards by flexing them and releasing" them in opposed relation between ones two hands.

These together with other objectsand advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to'like parts throughout, and in which: 3 I

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the card shufller which is the subject of this invention and shows the general details thereof; l

Figure 2 is an elevational view ofthe card shuflier r Figure 1 and shows a pair'of packs of cards in an initial shufiiing position, card clamping fingers of the card shufl'ler being shown in inoperativep'osition by solid lines and operativeposition by dotted lines anda'shufiie position of the cards being shown by dotted lines;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectionalview {taken substantially upon the planeindicated by the. section line 3-3 of Figure 2 and shows the details'of a card shuffling thumb of the card shuffler andthe means 'for operating thethumb; 7

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the card shuflling thumb; i

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of an upper portion of a modified form of card shuflier operating mechanism; and v i H Figure 6 is a perspective .view of a modified form of shuffling thumb, the thiambbeing a part of the modified form of Figure 5. p

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated in Figures 1 through 4, inclusive, a preferred-form of thecard shuffler which is the subject of this invention, the card shufller being referred to in general bythe reference numeral 10. The card shuffler 10 includes anelongated rectangular base 12 which has extending upwardly'fromthe central portion thereof a frame which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 14. The frame 14, as is best illustrated in Figure 3, includes a mounting flange 16 which is. secured'to the base along one longitudinal edgethefeof by suitable fasteners -18f= Formed integral-with the mounting flange 16 and extending upwardly therefrom is a supporting leg 1 20 of the frame 14. Formed integral with thesupper end of the'supporting leg 20 is ahorizontal leg 22 which has connected integrally with the opposite end. thereof a depending leg 24. I

The horizontal leg 22 includes a central opening'26 which has extending therethrough' an upper portion of a rack 28.- The rack 28, as is best illustrated in Figure 4, is double sided and include's oppositely directly sets of teethand 32. Secured to the lowerend 'of the'rack 28 is a generally rectangular, relatively thin blade. which forms the shufliing thumb 34. Also carried by the lower portion of the rack 28 is a guide plate 36 which will be explained "in more detail hereinafter.

As is bestillustr'ated in Figure 3, the frame 14 has secured to the legs 20 and24 thereof opposed guideways 38. The 'g'uideways' 38 have extending' therebetween and guidingly engagedtherein opposite edges-of the'guide plate 36 so as to limit the r-movement of -the shuffling thumb 34 to a vertical direction only. I 1 I Extending upwardly from the horizontal leg 22, as is best' illustrated in Figure 1', is afpair of transversely spaced ears 40 which have suitably journaled therein a shaft 42. One end of the shaft 42 extends beyond the frarne'14 and has secured thereto a suitable crank 44 for facilitating the rotation of the shaft 42. The-opposite 'end 'of the shaft 42 is provided with teeth to'forrn a pinion '46 which is engaged with the teeth 30 of the rack 28. 1

In order to prevent twisting of the rack '26, there is 'also provided a second pinion 48 'which'iorms a part of 'a shaft 50 journaled in cars 52. The shaft 50 is disposed in spaced-parallel relation with respect to'the shaft 42and is rotated by the rack 28 in response to vertical movement thereof by thepinion 46. f

The central port'io'nof the base 12 underlying the frame 14 is provided with an elongated recess 54 for receiving shuffled cards. The recess 54 is intended to receive therein cards which have been shuffled by the card shuffler'lfl. Disposed'at opposite ends of the recess 54 are stops 56. 'Thestops 56 are so spaced with respect to the thumb 34 thatfwhen packs of cards, such as the cards 58 are properly seated on the base12jprior-to beingjshuflied,

otherends thereof are in abutment with the stops 56 and opposed-inner ends thereof rest against the thumb 34.

In order to provide a proper shuffling action, it hasbeen found necessary to flex the central portions of the cards 58 downwardly as indicated by the dotted line positions of the cards 58 in Figure 2. In order to accomplish this, there is provided at each side of the thumb 34 intermediate the associated stop 56 and'the thumb 34 a finger6 0. Each of the fingers 60 is generally l-shaped in outline and includes a lower hook portion 62 and an'upper shank portion 64. The hook portion ,62 has the smoothly curved underside thereof compressibly enga'geablewith theup'permost card 58 of its associated pack of cards so as to'depress the central portions of the cards 58 to flex them.

Each of the fingers 6ii'is carried by a suitable linkage which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 66. The linkage 6 6 includes aplate 6 8: hingedly'secured to the base 1221s at'70. Qarried by the underside of the plate 68 is an ear 72 which has pivotallyconnected thereto as at 74 alink 76. The 1mm has pivotallyv connected to the opposite ends thereof as at 78 a, second link 80'.

The second link Sil is pivotally connected as atf82 to anear extending upwardly from the'base 12 and rigidly secured thereto. i

From the foregoing, itis readily apparent that the linkage 66 is of such a nature that the associated finger 60 may be easily moved to inoperative position such as shown by solid lines in Figure 2. In order to facilitate the movement of the finger 60 to its dotted line position in Figure 2, there is provided an operating plate 86 which issecnred to the link 76 as an extension thereof. When the operating plate 86 is depressed, the links 76 and 80 are moved to positions slightly past dead center so as to lock the linkage 66 with the thumb 60 being in a card depressing position, such as illustrated by dotted lines in Figure 2.

In order to accommodate packs of cards 58 of different thicknesses, the shank 64 of each of the fingers 60 is adjustably secured to its associated plate 68. This is accomplished by a releasable fastener 88 which is received in an elongated slot 90 in the shank 64.

When it is desired to shufile a deck of cards 58, the deck is divided into substantially even packs, such as the packs 92 illustrated in Figure 2. The two packs 92 are positioned against the stops 56 with their upper portions in opposed relation on opposite sides of the thumb 34, the thumb 34 being in its lowered position. Then the individual cards 58 of the packs 92 are flexed by engaging the packs 92 with the fingers 60. When this has been accomplished, the cards 58 are shuflied by turning the crank 44 which results in the thumb 34 being raised. As the thumb 34 moves vertically, the lowermost card 58 on each of the packs 92 is alternatingly released so that as the cards 58 drop into the recess 54, they will be in slightly overlapped alternating relation. The two packs 92 are then pulled out of the recess 54 and pushed to gether so as to form a single pack or deck of cards.

Although a single shuffling operation will be sufiicient to properly mix the cards as well as normally accomplished by the average card player, if it is desired to more thoroughly shuffle or mix the cards, the shufliing operation described above may be repeated as often as desired. Also, it may be advisable to mix the cards by simple or multiple cutting operations so as to change their sequence when shufiied.

Referring now to Figures and 6, it will be seen that there is illustrated a slightly modified form of card shuffler which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 94. The card shufiler 94 differs mainly in the construction of the thumb assembly which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 96. The thumb assembly 96 includes a thumb 98 which has generally the same proportions as the thumb 34. Extending upwardly from the thumb 98 and properly secured thereto is a rack 100. The rack 100 ditfers from the rack 28 inasmuch as it is provided with teeth 102 along one side thereof only.

Referring now to Figure 5 in particular, it will be seen that the horizontal leg 22 has secured to the upper surface thereof a vertically extending sleeve 104. The sleeve 104 is in vertical alignment with the opening 26 formed in the horizontal leg 22. Suitably guided in the sleeve 104 and extending therethrough is the rack 100. Engaged with the teeth 102 of the rack 100 are teeth of a pinion 106. The pinion 106 is formed on a drive shaft 108 suitably journaled in cars 110 extending upwardly from the horizontal leg 22 in spaced relation with respect to the sleeve 104. Although there has not been illustrated means for turning the drive shaft 108, it will be understood that the end thereof not shown will be provided with a suitable crank, such as the crank 44.

When the sleeve 104 is utilized for guiding the rack 100, the necessity for the guide plate 36 and the guideways 38 is eliminated. Accordingly, these members may also be eliminated. The elimination of the guideways 38 also permits the elimination of the depending leg 24 and as much of the horizontal leg 22 as desired.

From the foregoing description of the present invention, it is readily apparent that there has been devised an extremely simple device which may be easily operated by anyone and which at the same time is so designed whereby it effectively shufiies cards as near possible as feasible in a single simple shufiiing operation.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A mechanical card shufiier comprising a base, a central mechanical thumb mounted intermediate ends of said base for vertical movement, fingers carried by said base on opposite sides of said thumb for clamping packs of cards to said base with edges in flexed engagement with said thumb, means for selectively moving said thumb upwardly from said base from between said cards.

2. A mechanical card shufiler comprising a base, a mechanical thumb mounted intermediate ends of said base, fingers carried by said base on opposite sides of said thumb for clamping packs of cards to said base with edges in flexed engagement with said thumb, means for selectively moving said thumb upwardly from said base from between said cards, said fingers being supported by linkage carried by said base, means for locking said linkage to retain said fingers in card flexing positions.

3. A mechanical card shulfier comprising a base, a central mechanical thumb mounted intermediate ends of said base for vertical movement, fingers carried by said base on opposite sides of said thumb for clamping packs of cards to said base with edges in flexed engagement with said thumb, means for selectively moving said thumb upwardly from said base from between said cards, fixed card stop means carried by said base in cooperation with said fingers to restrain movement of cards away from said thumb.

4. A mechanical card shufiler comprising a base, a central mechanical thumb mounted intermediate ends of said base for vertical movement, fingers carried by said base on opposite sides of said thumb for clamping packs of cards to said base with edges in flexed engagement with said thumb, means for selectively moving said thumb upwardly from said base from between said cards, said thumb being in the form of a relatively thin, vertically disposed blade.

5. A mechanical card shufi'ler comprising a base, a central mechanical thumb mounted intermediate ends of said base, fingers carried by said base on opposite sides of said thumb for clamping packs of cards to said base with edges in flexed engagement with said thumb, means for selectively moving said thumb upwardly from said base from between said cards, said means including a rack connected to said thumb, a gear supported by said base engaging said rack.

6. A mechanical card shufiier comprising a base, a central mechanical thumb mounted intermediate ends of said base, fingers carried by said base on opposite sides of said thumb for clamping packs of cards to said base with edges in flexed engagement with said thumb, means for selectively moving said thumb upwardly from said base from between said cards, said means including a rack connected to said thumb, a gear supported by said base engaging said rack, said gear being crank operated.

7. A mechanical card shuflier comprising a base, a mechanical thumb mounted intermediate ends of said base, fingers carried by said base on opposite sides of said thumb for clamping packs of cards to said base with edges in flexed engagement with said thumb, means for selectively moving said thumb upwardly from said base from between :said cards, a card receiving pocket formed in said base for receiving shuffied cards, said pocket having sloping bottom sections and being of a maximum depth below said thumb.

8. A mechanical card shuffier comprising a base, a mechanical thumb mounted intermediate ends of said base, fingers carried by said base on opposite sides of said thumb for clamping packs of cards to said base with edges in flexed engagement with said thumb, means for selectively moving said thumb upwardly from said base from between said cards, said fingers being supported by linkage carried by said base, said linkage being lockable to retain said fingers in card flexing positions, said fingers being adjustably secured to said linkage to accommodate various thicknesses of packs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

